Latching device



June 13, 1967 J 5 MATE-JA ET AL LATCHING DEVICE 2 sheets sheet Filed Nov. 3, 1964 d 08 w w, m4 .4 NBA 0 ETW 0 VA. 4! I WM U $M MM 0 June 1957 J. 5. MATEJA ETAL 3,325,202

LATCHING DEVICE Filed Nov. 5, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Cafe/7 To Close Lafcn Extended To Hold 6am Open arch Lara/r Exiena'ed To Reach Uneven Grade Larch Can Be Extended 70 Reach sagging Grade Line INVENTORS. JOSEPH 5'. MATEJ/i and y GEORGE E'. WATKINS Afforney United States Patent 3,325,202 LATCI-IING DEVICE Joseph S. Mateja, North Chicago, and George E. Watkins,

Waukegan, 11]., assignors to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 408,577 2 Claims. (Cl. 292-181) This invention relates to a latching device. More particularly, the invention is directed to a latching device which adjusts to a desired extended length. Still more particularly, the invention concerns a spring loaded latching device which can be readily disengaged.

The latch according to the invention is particularly useful in conjunction with fence gates that have tubular frames and can be used in spite of changing field conditions which may render other latching devices unusable. Frost conditions resulting in a sinking of concrete footings, sidewalks and driveways may change the elevation and spacing of the gates or ground supports and require the replacement of latching devices. Settlement of new roads, resurfacing of old roads, and wet soil conditions causing post footings to change positions may result in a change in the clearance under gates and also require field adjustment or repair to compensate for the change.

The present invention provides a latching device which is not subject to the above disadvantages and is automatically adjusted during use to accommodate varying field conditions. The latch includes an internal plunger rod assembly extendable outwardly as by foot pressure and which automatically adjusts to a desired extended length so that the tip of the plunger rod can be depressed into a socket in a latch catch located in the ground beneath the gate. The plunger rod is spring loaded and the latch can be quickly released by disengaging the spring pressure. This device has the additional advantage of being capable of safe use without danger of scraping hands or pinching fingers, and without lifting or dropping heavy weights. The internal plunger rod assembly can be easily extended by foot pressure on a foot pedal and the hands remain free to guide the gate into the desired position. Only slight pressure is needed to release the plunger rod assembly by either a pushing or pulling motion and there are no cumbersome forks to guide into position as there are on many conventional gate latches. All working parts are enclosed in a tubular housing such as the end pipe section of a gate frame and are, therefore, protected from severe weather conditions. An additional advantage of the latching device is that it can be used to hold a gate open so that the gate my be locked in an open position as well as in a closed position. The rapid release feature of the latch enables it to be used for emergency exit gates at public facilities or in industry where it is necessary to be able to open the gates quickly in an emergency.

A representative embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the assembled latching device;

FIGURE 2 is a cut-away view showing the position of the internal plunger rod and working parts of the latching device;

FIGURE 3 is a cut-away view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the internal plunger rod assembly in a retracted position;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the positions and form of the individual working parts and the internal plunger rod assembly; and

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are schematic illustrations of some uses of the latching device in different situations.

The assembled latching device shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings generally comprises a gate frame pipe 20, a latch case 40, a depressable plunger bar section 80 and a gate corner L fitting 90.

A latch case 40 is attached to gate frame pipe 20 in such a manner as to allow the latch case to pivot freely.

One way of attaching the latch case is by means of a rivet 18 inserted through opposite, aligned and predrilled holes in the latch case and the gate frame pipe 20. Attached to the latch case 40 is a latch piece 44 and the latch case is formed so that when in a position of rest the latch piece 44 will be inserted through a hole 46 in the gate frame pipe 20 to the innermost extent. The latch case can be mounted in this manner in several ways such as with a spring attached to the pipe 20 and the lower surface of the latch case 40. However, in the embodiment illustrated, the latch case 40 is made with a concentration of material 42 off center which holds the latch case in a vertical position by gravity and causes inward pressure to be applied on latch piece 44. The latch piece 44 can be attached to the latch case 40 by being screwed to the concentrated material 42 within a groove or recess provided therein to accommodate the latch piece. The latch piece 44 extends through aperture 46 in the gate frame pipe 20 and engages a control element 50 where it rests in one of the numerous saw toothed notches and bears against one of the lugs 48 or collar 52 of the saw toothed control element. The control element permits vertical adjustment of the internal plunger rod assembly hereinafter described by coacting with latch piece 44 which is held in position against the flat uppersurface of the lugs 48 until disengaged.

The internal plunger rod assembly of the gate latch shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 comprises a control element 50, an extension bar 56, a spring retainer and a plunger bar section 80. The control element, extension bar, and plunger bar are attached so that they move together vertically. A compression spring 58 surrounds extension bar 56 which is slidable within the spring. Control element '50 is attached to the extension bar 56 by means of a roll pin 54 which is inserted through apertures in collar 52 of the control element and in the upper end of the extension bar. Another roll pin 64 is inserted into the extension bar 56 to hold a washer 62 in position which acts as an upper stop for compression spring 58 through which the extension bar extends. The lower end of the extension bar 56 fits into a collar 68 of spring retainer 70. The collar 68 of the spring retainer acts as the lower stop for the compression spring.

Plunger bar section is an element having a slot 74 adapted to accommodate the throat 72 of spring retainer 70. Theextension bar 56 when fitted through collar 68 of spring retainer 70 fits into a recess in plunger bar section 80 and is attached thereto by means of a roll pin 66 after throat 72 of the spring retainer has been fitted into slot 74. The plunger bar section also includes a foot pedal 76 and a lower tip 78. The foot pedal is attached to shank 82 of the plunger bar section (e.g. by welding) and the tip 78 may be formed either as a part of the foot pedal 76 or as the end of shank 82. In the latter embodiment, the tip 78 would extend through an opening in the foot pedal 76. The tip 78 is adapted to fit into a recess in a ground cover plate when the internal plunger rod assembly is extended by the application of downward pressure on foot pedal 76.

The plunger bar section 80 is attached to the gate frame pipe 20 by a final assembly rivet 84 which is also used to secure the gate corner L fitting 90. The rivet 84 extends through the gate corner L fitting, the gate frame pipe 20 and through slot 74 of the plunger bar section 80 and fixes the position of the internal plunger rod assembly, while preventing removal or turning of the internal parts. Together with compression spring 58 the rivet 84 holds the upper collar of the spring retainer 70 in a fixed position allowing the plunger bar 80 when pressure is applied to pedal 76 to pull the extension bar 56 through the collar of spring retainer 7 and lower the control element 50 so that the latch piece 44 will engage one of the lugs 48 and thereby keep the latch mechanism actuated. The lower end of spring retainer 70 rests against rivet 84 which prevents its vertical movement so that downward pressure on plunger bar 80 causes the collar of the spring retainer to function as a lower stop for the compression spring. Downward pressure is transmitted to washer 62 and roll pin 64 which are also forced downward by depressing the foot pedal and compress the spring. When the lower tip 78 of plunger bar section 80 is depressed into a latch catch, eg the recess of a ground cover plate, the internal plunger rod assembly will be held in position by latch piece 44 which will bear against the upper surface of one of the lugs 48 of the control element 50.

Downward movement of the control element 50 is facilitated by rounding the lower surface of lugs 48 and the upper face of latch piece 44 to provide minimum surface contact and resistance. When pressure is applied to the foot pedal 76, the control element 50 will move downward, allowing the rounded surface of lugs 48 to contact the upper surface of latch piece 44, thus forcing the latch piece out of position. After one of the lugs 48 has passed below the lower edge of the latch piece 44, the gravity forces resulting from the heavy concentration of material 42 off center within the latch case 40 will force the latch piece 44 back into its normal position when the internal plunger rod assembly has been depressed to the desired length.

The internal plunger rod assembly can be disengaged by pushing or pulling on the latch case 40 to rotate the latch piece out of its position within the control element 50, causing the compression spring to return to its normal extended position, thereby withdrawing plunger bar section 80 and its lower tip 78 out of engagement with the ground cover plate. The internal plunger rod assembly can be locked in position by preventing rotation or pivoting of the latch case 40 which in turn prevents latch piece 44 from disengaging lugs 48 of the control element 50. Pivoting of the latch case 40 can be prevented by locking padlock keeper 14 with the extended lip 16 provided for this purpose. The padlock keeper 14 may be clamped or welded to the gate frame pipe 20.

To retract or release the internal plunger rod assembly, only slight pressure on the latch case is required since withdrawal of the compression force on spring 58 causes the plunger bar section 80 to spring instantly to a retracted position. The foot pedal 56 is designed with a recess to contact the bottom of the gate frame pipe 20 and the edge of corner L fitting 90 to absorb the shock of the retraction and act as a stop. Alternate stop means may, of course, be provided if desired.

Several gate arrangements in which the latching device of the invention is particularly useful are illustrated in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7. In FIGURE 5, two latch catches are shownone to hold the gate in an opened position, the other for closing the entranceway. FIGURES 6 and 7 illustrate how the latching device is useful on uneven grades and point out the importance of adjustability in field conditions.

The self-adjusting plunger latching device described above may also be used on slide gates either in closed or open positions and eliminates the need for cumbersome post guide keepers that extend into the gate opening. The gate latch may be locked from either side because it is readily accessible. It is also apparent that existing fences and gates may be readily modified for installation of this latching device. Any tubular gate frame can be adapted to contain the internal plunger rod mechanism and the latch case can be easily attached to its outer surface. A hole may be made to accommodate the latch piece and the tubular frame can be drilled to accept the pivot pin of the latch case. Existing gate corner L fittings need not be modified extensively and the assembly rivet can be used in the same manner as described above in connection with final assembly rivet 84.

It will, of course, be appreciated that the internal plunger rod assembly need not be composed of as many separate elements as described above in connection with the drawings. Thus, for example, the extension bar and plunger bar section may be made as a single unit and, indeed, the entire assembly but for the spring and spring retainer may be made out of a long bar. The upper portion can be machined into a control element and the lower portion slotted to accommodate a lower stop for the compression spring. It is also apparent that lower stop means for the compression spring other than the spring retainer described may be used. The internal plunger rod assembly shown in the drawings and described above which is composed of separate components is presently preferred because the parts are easy to manufacture and assemble. However, it is obvious that a latch device within the purview of the invention may be constructed with fewer parts by making an integral unit. In the latter design, although formed of fewer separate parts, the overall internal plunger rod assembly is still regarded as comprising the above described segments, i.e. a control element, extension bar, compression spring, spring retainer and plunger bar section.

We claim:

1. An adjustable latching device comprising an elongated tubular housing and an internal plunger rod assembly disposed within said housing; said internal plunger rod assembly comprising a control element, an extension bar, a compression spring, a spring retainer, and a plunger bar section; said extension bar being fastened at one end thereof to said control element and at its opposite end to said plunger bar section, said compression spring surrounding said extension bar so that said extension bar is slidable Within it, stop means for said compression spring attached to said extension bar; said plunger bar section having a latch-catch-engageable-end, a slotted shank, and means upon which force may be exerted to extend said plunger bar section outward of said tubular housing; said spring retainer having a collar and a throat which fits into said slotted shank of said plunger bar section; said compression spring being positioned betwen said spring retainer collar and said stop means; means to prevent movement of said spring retainer when said plunger bar section is forced outward of said tublar housing; a latch case pivotally attached to said tubular housing, said latch case having a latch piece inwardly extendable into said tubular housing through an aperture therein and engageable with said control element to restrict movement of said control element when said compression spring is compressed by extension of said plunger bar section outward of said tubular housing and said latch piece being disengageable from said control element by pivoting said latch case.

2. An adjustable latching device comprising an elongated vertically extending, tubular housing and an internal plunger rod assembly disposed within said housing; said internal plunger rod assembly comprising a control element, an extension bar, a compression spring, a spring retainer, and a plunger bar section; said extension bar being fastened at its upper end to said control element and at its lower end to said plunger bar section, said compression spring surrounding said extension bar so that said extension bar is slidable within it, upper stop means for said compression spring attached to said extension bar; said plunger bar section having a latch-catch-engageable end, a slotted shank, and means upon which force may be exerted to extend said plunger bar section downward from said tubular housing; said spring retainer having a collar and a throat which fits into said slotted shank of said plunger bar section, the end of said extension bar which is fastened to said plunger bar section being fitted through said collar of said spring retainer, said compres- 5 6 sion spring being positioned between said spring retainer disengageable from said control element by pivoting said collar and said upper stop means; means to prevent vertical latch case. movement of said spring retainer when said plunger bar References Cited section is forced downward of said tubular housing; 21 UNITED STATES PATENTS lat-ch case pivotally attached to said tubular housing, said 5 latch case having a latch piece inwardly extendable into 618818 2/1899 Adams 292-181 said tubular housing through an aperture therein and 934,392 9/1909 cliosweu 292*153 engageable with said control element to restrict movement 1768326 6/1930 Mlner 292*181 of said control element when said compression spring is compressed by extension of said plunger bar section out- MARVIN CHAMPION Prlmary Exammer' ward of said tubular housing and said latch piece being J. R. MOSES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE LATCHING DEVICE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED TUBULAR HOUSING AND AN INTERNAL PLUNGER ROD ASSEMBLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING; SAID INTERNAL PLUNGER ROD ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A CONTROL ELEMENT, AN EXTENSION BAR, A COMPRESSION SPRING, A SPRING RETAINER, AND A PLUNGER BAR SECTION; SAID EXTENSION BAR BEING FASTENED AT ONE END THEREOF TO SAID CONTROL ELEMENT AND AT ITS OPPOSITE END TO SAID PLUNGER BAR SECTION, SAID COMPRESSION SPRING SURROUNDING SAID EXTENSION BAR SO THAT SAID EXTENSION BAR IS SLIDABLE WITHIN IT, STOP MEANS FOR SAID COMPRESSION SPRING ATTACHED TO SAID EXTENSION BAR; SAID PLUNGER BAR SECTION HAVING A LATCH-CATCH-ENGAGEABLE-END, A SLOTTED SHANK, AND MEANS UPON WHICH FORCE MAY BE EXERTED TO EXTEND SAID PLUNGER BAR SECTION OUTWARD OF SAID TUBULAR HOUSING; SAID SPRING RETAINER HAVING A COLLAR AND A THROAT WHICH FITS INTO SAID SLOTTED SHANK OF SAID PLUNGER BAR SECTION; SAID COMPRESSION SPRING BEING POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID SPRING RETAINER COLLAR AND SAID STOP MEANS; TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF SAID SPRING RETAINER WHEN SAID PLUNGER BAR SECTION IS FORCED OUTWARD OF SAID TUBULAR HOUSING; A LATCH CASE 